Movers & Shakers 06/08/14

Published: 2014.06.05 12:42 PM

Matt Steele has been hired by the Alaska Aerospace Corp. as vice president of business development as it expands within the commercial aerospace industry and diversifies its business services. Steele joins AAC with 34 years of experience in aerospace business development. Most recently, he was director of business development for ATK Launch Services. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics from Kent State University in 1980, and an MBA in technology management from the University of Phoenix in 2004. Steele
will be based in Salt Lake City, Utah, to maintain and develop customer relationships.

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Sara Longan of Anchorage and Steve Masterman of Fairbanks have been appointed directors in the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Longan has been appointed director of the Office of Project Management and Permitting. She has worked for the state more than nine years, most recently as deputy director of the permitting office, where she was responsible for the permitting and administration of large-scale oil and gas, transportation, and clean energy projects. Prior to that, she was the policy and legislative advisor in the Division of Oil and Gas. Longan earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Natural Resources and a Master of Science in ecotoxicology from Oklahoma State University. Longan also holds a doctorate in public health with a special focus on health, safety, and environment. Masterman has been appointed director of the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. He joined the division in 2013 as division operations manager and since November served as acting director. He has worked for the State of Alaska for the past 10 years. Masterman arrived in Alaska in 1983 and has 20 years of experience in the mineral industry, including generative exploration in Alaska, near-mine exploration in Peru and mine geology in Nevada. In 2004, he joined the Alaska Department of Transportation where he managed the Northern Region’s Engineering Geology program. Masterman earned a bachelor’s degree in mining geology from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, and a master’s degree in geological engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Four individuals have joined The Wilson Agency. Jolene Bryant joins The Wilson Agency as an employee benefits advisor. Her previous experience is with a third party administrator, carrier and brokerage firm and she is licensed in property and casualty and life and health through the Alaska Division of Insurance. Ben Hemmila, having worked in several capacities of leadership, is now transitioning from his recent experience as a regional consultant and vice president of marketing in Minnesota to join The Wilson Agency as a business development executive. Hemmila graduated from Northwestern College with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is currently pursuing his MBA at Liberty University. Sara Saidi joins as marketing coordinator. Before moving to Anchorage she worked at a multicultural advertising agency. She graduated with both a bachelor’s degree in Spanish for International Service and master’s degree in business analysis from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Marc JJ Denslinger will work as an associate analyst. He is a recent graduate of University of Alaska Anchorage with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He will assist our staff with claims reporting and analysis.

Five lawyers in the international law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP Anchorage office were ranked by Chambers and Partners in its annual survey, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2014. Dorsey Partners Robert Bundy, Jahna Lindemuth and Spencer Sneed were ranked in the Litigation: General Commercial practice area. Partners Michael Mills, Richard Rosston and Sneed were ranked in the Corporate/M&A practice area, with Mills and Sneed also separately ranked in the Corporate/M&A: Bankruptcy practice area. Rosston was also separately ranked in the Real Estate practice area. In all, the five Dorsey Anchorage lawyers received a total of nine individual rankings, including four rankings of Band 1, a Senior Statesman ranking for Bundy and a Star Individual ranking for Rosston.

Ron Kieswether of Anchorage has been promoted to the president of Carlile Transportation. Kieswether joined Carlile last October as chief operating officer focused on operations including logistics, less than truckload operations, trucking and safety. His expanded role will include setting strategic direction for Carlile’s Alaska and Lower 48 business and overseeing all operations for the company. Kieswether has more than 30 years experience in the transportation industry. Prior to joining Carlile, Ron was vice president of operations for Oak Harbor Freight Lines in Auburn, Wash. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Portland State University in Oregon.